About Metro

Staff

With a collective 85-plus years of experience in theater for young audiences among them, our staff brings a remarkable depth of passion and artistry to every aspect of our work.

Julia FloodArtistic Directorjulia at metroplays dot org

Julia Flood has more than 30 years of experience in the professional theatre as producer, director, playwright, actor and teacher. Most recently, Julia served as Producing Artistic Director of Eckerd Theater Company (ETC), a professional theater for young audiences based at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL. In her 16 years at ETC, she commissioned, developed and produced many new works for young audiences including VOTE? by Eric Coble, and BATTLEDRUM by Doug Cooney with music by Lee Ahlin. A graduate of Northwestern University, Julia did post-graduate study with famed teachers Robert Lewis and Alvina Krause before spending 7 years as a resident member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Pennsylvania. A native of New England, she traveled throughout the US as a free-lance theater artist before settling in Florida in 1996. Julia is the author of more than a dozen produced plays for youth and family audiences, including THE SNOW QUEEN, music by Lee Ahlin (Eldridge Press 2000) and THE GREAT ALPHABET ADVENTURE (Anchorage Press Plays 2010). Julia is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and Dramatists Guild and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of TYA-USA, the US chapter of the International Association of Theater for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ).

Karen WebermanEducation Directorkaren at metroplays dot org

Karen joined Metro Theater Company in 2011. She has over 10 years of experience in arts education and professional theatre. Karen is honored to serve the mission of MTC by collaborating with young people, educators and community members throughout the St. Louis region. Her creative and research interests focus on arts integration, theatre for social change, applied theatre with marginalized populations, and professional development for teaching artists and pre-service and in-service teachers. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida and a BA in Theatre Arts from Michigan State University.

John WolbersProducing Associatejohn at metroplays dot org

John joined Metro Theater Company in 2007 as an actor in Hana’s Suitcase, and became the full-time Resident Teaching Artist in 2012. Previously he served as the Youth Theatre Coordinator and Camp of the Arts Director for the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. Passionately dedicated to fostering equity, accessibility and support for the local arts community; John has worked for over a decade in the St. Louis region as a professional actor, director, producer, playwright and teaching artist. He is a St. Louis Theater Circle Award winner, and the author of The Playing Ground and Doctor Faustus: or the Modern Prometheus as well as several Shakespearean adaptations. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Southwestern University.

Erik is a St. Louis-based actor, technician, and stage combatant. While working in the scene shop at Washington University in St Louis, he also began serving as a technical director for various student projects and developed an interest in working in technical theater, while continuing to study acting. After graduating with his degree in drama, he also began studying stage combat with the Society of American Fight Directors and Dueling Arts International, where he is currently certified as a DAI Associate Instructor.

As a freelance theater professional, he has served as a technical director, designer, carpenter, electrician, fight director, stage combat instructor, and actor on innumerable productions & workshops with educational institutions and professional companies across St. Louis.

Since first working with Metro in 2012, he continued to contract with the company in various capacities before joining the team full-time in 2017.

Gen ZoufalResident Teaching Artistgen at metroplays dot org

Gen Zoufal is delighted to return to Metro Theater Company, where she previously served as the Teaching Artist Fellow during the 2016-2017 season. Outside of her time at Metro Theater Company, Gen also worked at Seattle Children’s Theater in a variety of capacities including the education and development departments. She is honored to have the opportunity to bring arts education that engages students and invites them to challenge the world around them to schools and communities across St. Louis with MTC.

Samantha ReserTeaching Artist Fellowsamantha at metroplays dot org

Samantha Reser is so excited to join Metro Theater Company for the 2018-2019 season. She has over 5 years’ experience as a teaching artist, and has previously worked in education programs and children’s theatres such as Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Hartford Stage, and Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. She is dedicated to pursuing a career in children’s theatre because she believes in the power of using theatre to teach about empathy, conflict resolution, and confidence. Originally from Oklahoma, she received her BFA in Theatre for Young Audiences with a minor in Directing from Oklahoma City University.

Tracy VailBookkeepertracy at metroplays dot org

Tracy joined Metro Theater Company in January, 2016. Prior to her return to St. Louis, Tracy lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she was a Payroll Supervisor for Aegon USA and then a Product Manager in renewable energy for Alliant Energy. While in Cedar Rapids, she served on the board for Children’s Theater of Cedar Rapids. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Mount Mercy University.